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Gresham's Jasmine Kleiboeker (5) slides safely into second past McNary's Kelsi Christenson (27) in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

McNary's Haley Ebner (6) hugs her teammates after earning a run in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

McNary's Megan Ulrey (26) pitches in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

Gresham's Bree Gibbons (13) tags McNary's Madisen Oliver (3) out at home in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

McNary's Hannah Carr (11) high-fives head coach Kevin Wise in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

McNary's Kimi Ito (1) bats in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

McNary's Madisen Oliver (3) tries to take Gresham's Erika Espinoza (9) out at first in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

Gresham's Shianne Smith (22) pitches in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

McNary's Megan Ulrey (26) bats in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

Gresham's Maddy Lindhorst (1) looks to pass to first after getting McNary's Madisen Oliver (3) out at second in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

Gresham's Maddy Lindhorst (1) in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

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McNary's Hannah Carr (11) high-fives head coach Kevin Wise in the Gresham vs. McNary softball game, in the first round of the OSAA class 6A state playoffs, at McNary High School in Keizer on Monday, May 25, 2015. McNary won the game 11-7.(Photo: ANNA REED / Statesman Journal)Buy Photo

The Celtics learned a long time ago that when things get rough, they have the ability to be the better team.

McNary High School's softball team came back from an error-filled first inning and a 2-0 deficit to Gresham with a seven-run fifth inning for an 11-7 win Monday afternoon in the first round of the OSAA Class 6A state playoffs.

It's a team that showed a long time ago it doesn't give up.

The Celtics were 4-4 at the mid-point of the Greater Valley Conference season, but won their final eight league games consecutively to finish in a tie for the league championship with Sprague and West Salem.

"I see why they would call us the underdogs because we did start out kind of iffy," said senior catcher Kiana Villareal, who was 1 for 3 with two RBIs. "We put all of our abilities together and learned how to play as one, as a unit.

"It's been paying off for us. Our hitting has gotten extremely better and our defense has tightened up a lot, too."

Now the Celtics are 20-7 after their 11th consecutive win and are moving on in the playoffs.

"We knew we could get here and we knew we were capable of it from the beginning," said junior shortstop Kelsi Christenson, who was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

"It kind of just came together and it clicked, and we actually knew we could. We're reaching our peak right now, so that's good."

But the team's play was ragged in the first inning.

After a pair of McNary errors put runners on second and third bases, Gresham's Dosjane'e McCloyn hit a two RBI double for a 2-0 lead.

McNary tied the game at 2 in the second when Emma Kinler hit into an error to score Hannah Carr and Kimi Ito hit into a fielder's choice that allowed Haley Ebner to score.

The Celtics took a 4-2 lead in the fourth on RBI singles by Villarreal and Ebner, but the Gophers tied the game in the fifth on an RBI double by Emily Rose.

As it has been all season, though, McNary's hitting came around with a little time.

"We knew at the start of the season that they were going to hit," McNary coach Kevin Wise said. "The same thing like the game today, we started out a little bit slow. And we take a little time figuring a pitcher out, and then once we get her figured out, it just kind of keeps piling."

With one out in the fifth, Carr hit into an error to score courtesy runner Nicole Duran then Kinler; Ito and Christenson had RBI hits; and Christenson scored on a sac fly by Villarreal for an 11-4 lead.

McNary learned a long time ago that it's capable of coming back from any deficit.

"We've gotten down before, and they're one of those teams that they never get too overwhelmed by anything, too overexcited, and they just keep playing the game," Wise said.

"We start out a little slow here and there," he said with a laugh, "but they just keep it together and it works."

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6701 or follow at twitter.com/bpoehler